Critical Care Newsline — May 17, 2012

Critical Care Newsline, the electronic newsletter from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, contains information selected just for you by our clinical practice experts. Each issue includes links to resources, research abstracts (individual sites may require registration and a fee to access complete articles) and websites that will inform you on issues affecting nurses and the nursing profession.

1. CALL TO ACTION Wear blue May 18 to celebrate critical care
May is National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month (NCCARM), supported by AACN, Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society and American Association for Respiratory Care. Learn ways to celebrate NCCARM, including wearing blue this Friday, May 18. NCCARM honors the dedication and commitment that critical care teams demonstrate while caring for patients and their families.

2. CALL TO ACTION Submit nominations for board, nominating committee
As a member of the AACN community, act on your unique privilege to help shape the future of nursing and fulfill our pledge to patients and their families by nominating candidates as volunteer leaders. Submit your nominations for the FY2014-16 Board of Directors and FY2014 Nominating Committee. Accountabilities and leadership requirements, available positions and nomination forms are posted at www.aacn.org/nominations. Contact AACN’s Governance Department at 1-800-394-5995, x331 or volunteers@aacn.org for more information. Deadline: Thursday, May 31.

4. RESOURCE NTI starts this Saturday, May 19
Presented by GE Healthcare and AACN, some of the best webcasts from AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI), May 19-24, Orlando, Fla., will be available during and after the conference at www.aacn.org/ntiwebcasts. You can also participate in NTI from home by following us on Facebook, our NTI Facebook page and Twitter (join the conversation with the hashtags #NTI2012 and #AACN).

5. RESOURCE AACN offers new version of dysrhythmia interpretation course
AACN recently launched an updated version of its Basic ECG Interpretation E-Learning Course. The course — which helps healthcare professionals working with monitored patients to identify potential cardiac threats quickly and respond appropriately — features an eight-step process for analyzing and interpreting cardiac rhythms. The course provides an evidence-based interactive experience to enhance clinical decision-making at the bedside. New to the updated version is content on identifying and troubleshooting pacemaker rhythms. Earn 6.5 hours of continuing nursing education credit. Visit www.aacn.org/e-learning for more information on AACN E-Learning courses.

7. CALL TO ACTION Register for the Nursing Alliance Leadership Academy
Register by July 5 and save on the Nursing Alliance Leadership Academy (NALA), Aug. 18-19 in Louisville, Ky. Enjoy the opportunity to network and build relationships with your counterparts from other organizations. Visit the NALA website for more information. AACN Continuing Professional Development Scholarships support NALA and other programs that help members enrich their careers and acquire knowledge and skills beyond traditional academic nursing.

9. CALL TO ACTION Participate in study on burnout in critical care nurses
Participate in a research study on burnout in critical care nurses. The study is being conducted by Abbey Unes, a masters student at Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., and takes about 15 minutes to complete. Email Unes if you have questions.

10. CALL TO ACTION Submit speaker abstracts for NTI 2013
Please read the submission guidelines for Live Educational Sessions at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI), May 18-23, 2013, in Boston. Submit an abstract by Monday, June 4.

11. FACEBOOK The impact of young nurses on the profession
Young people are choosing the nursing profession in record numbers. How is this influx impacting our profession? Join the conversation with the online AACN community on our Facebook page, and “like” us while you’re there.

16. AACN RESOURCES
Find jobs at NursePath.com Are you a recent graduate? Or are you a mid- or senior-career acute or critical care nurse looking to change jobs or locations? Visit NursePath.com, AACN’s online career site, to find employment opportunities in high acuity and critical care across the U.S.

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